Green

The scale of green is wide: the human eye can distinguish more shades of green than of other colors. Green is the median color of the color scale, and unlike some other colors, it does not distract the eye.

Green is often regarded as a symbol of life and growth. It is associated with spring and bursting leaves. Green is a calming and therapeutic color. On the other hand, some bright or dark shades of green can be conceived of as negative, even aggressive. A case in point is the shade "poison green".

In terms of ideology, green is connected to ecologic matters and the ecological movement. Green also has many religious meanings. In various European countries, the color of Maundy Thursday has been green. In some languages, the day is called "Green Thursday" even today.

Green is a significant color also in the Islam. Green is highly appreciated as a color referring to faith. Thus, it is not used for mundane purposes. Green is a common color in flags of the Islamic countries, and in coats of arms and prayer rugs.

Green shades can be found in abundance in nature. However, it is fairly difficult to produce green pigments. Artists often made green by mixing blue and yellow. For instance, the Spanish artist Diego Velázquez frequently used a mixture of azurite and ochre or lead tin yellow. The Italian artist Titian combined yellow and black to produce green. The first green pigment consisting of only one substance was developed in the 19th century.